Fire departments in Upshur County said they are lacking the technological resources that would help their response times to emergencies.

The Upshur County Firefighters Association presented three proposals to the Upshur County Commission on Thursday that it claims would help improve the response time from its seven volunteer fire departments and the Buckhannon Fire Department.

The association would like all mapping and addressing data to be made available to it in a digital copy for use on department-owned computers and mobile devices.

The association said it sees some problems with radio traffic and pages not being received by firefighters. It wants to make the 911 center fully capable of dispatching departments via text message through its CAD system and get a completion date in which the wireless link between 911 and the radio towers will be installed and put into service.

The association said the phone line has been an issue in the event of severe weather.

Both sides agreed that they need to do what's best for the county.

"The other things are little things we need done, dealing with the dispatching center and different ways that we can be dispatched to allow us to have a quicker response, but also a more efficient response in getting more manpower to the scene in a more timely manner," said Lt Joey Baxa, Upshur County Firefighters Association.

"In all of the efforts and dollars being spent is to provide a higher level of service to the folks in the county when they need emergency services, and that's our goal we'll certainly work toward do everything we can to make that happen," said Donnie Tenney, Upshur County Commission president.

Another issue was regarding insurance liability, that matter could also be addressed at Thursday's city council meeting in Buckhannon.